How Did My Fish Die? :-(

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Razor7Music

Razor7Music

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2008
440
7
48
Irvine, CA
www.myspace.com
Hello--

I am very sad that my acai died and I am trying to figure out what happened.

The tank is established and stable in all areas. I had the acai for about 5 months. When I went to work in the morning, it was totally normal. When I got home about 9 hours later, it was dead.

I've had fish die before, like anyone, but this one was very unusual. The fish was totally healthy. When I found it, it's pectoral fins were erect, straight out and it's mouth was wide open. There were no marks on it from attack. I've never seen a dead fish with it's fins and mouth like that.

I did another full water test after, and the nitrite was at 0.50 because I changed the filter media 2 weeks earlier, but that should not have killed a healthy fish in 9 hours.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks--I'll miss 'Flashy' :cry:
 
what were the other tank mates... and what sex was the acei and the others.. what size tank... did you notice any bullying... sometimes fish just die of stress ...no physical contact from another fish is needed... they can only take the chasing for so long... what did you feed them last... how is everyone else..?
 
did he possibly choke on food? very possible that he could've been stressed like red said
 
The other tank mates are in my signature. It was a female. I fed them in the morning before I went to work. Cichlid flakes. With it's mouth wide open and the fins erect, I would say it choked too. I looked down it's mouth and I didn't see anything, but it could have been deeper down. I feed my bottom feeders wafers at night when the lights are out. Maybe there was a part of one left or something and she choked on it.
 
Razor7Music;3174251; said:
The other tank mates are in my signature. It was a female. I fed them in the morning before I went to work. Cichlid flakes. With it's mouth wide open and the fins erect, I would say it choked too. I looked down it's mouth and I didn't see anything, but it could have been deeper down. I feed my bottom feeders wafers at night when the lights are out. Maybe there was a part of one left or something and she choked on it.
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i quess this could definitly be a possibility,... any way, sorry for your loss...
 
Razor7Music;3174621; said:
Thanks. I guess all the more reason to speed up getting my larger tank. Then I can replace her and not have to worry--as much!
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yes thats a nice collection you have... and they will appreciate a larger tank... and you will enjoy it also.... to see them in a really nice set up.... :D
 
paigntonlad;3177586; said:
you said the nitrite was up, and that you changed the filter media 2 weeks ago.
that means then, for 2 weeks you have had ammonia spikes, and nitrite spikes.
assuming your tank is at the correct ph, around 8, then even the smallest amount of ammonia or nitrite can be deadly to fish.
ammonia in a tank with a ph 8, is 100 times more toxic than the same ammount of ammonia in a tank with a ph 7.

if the fishes fins were erect, and mouth open, then thats a sign of poisoning.
you say it was fine, then died after 9 hours, but really the fish had been slowly dieing for 2 weeks from ammonia and nitrite burns.

I would say your fish most definately died of ammonia or nitrite burns.

why did you replace the filter media?
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Initially I checked all of the pH requirements for all of my fish, and because I keep a couple of bottom feeders, I keep the pH at 7.8. I read that you shouldn't change your filter media until it is basically falling apart. The activated carbon HOB filter media I had was overwhelmed with algae. I cleaned it with spent tank water for about 6 months, but it got to the point where water would not flow through it and it smelled really bad. So I changed it.

At the time I changed it, I did not do a water change so as to keep as many bacteria as possible. I also added the prescribed amount of SCs Stability. What do you think?

Thanks,
 
paigntonlad;3179321; said:
What kind of filter are using mate? and what is in your filter?
The reason I ask, is that a healthy 'working' filter wont give off bad smells.

I find, in my external filters, (rena xp4) I set them up like this...
bottom basket i use ceramic rings/bio stars to deal with ammonia/nitrite (put in the bottom, so i clean the top filters without taking the bio stars out of the water stopping bacteria die off)
In the next basket i have seachem matrix, to help control Nitrates, Basket 3 I have carbon, and the top basket i cram with fine filter floss.

On my 6x2x2 malawi tank, I run 2 of these filters, and find my tank is spotlessly clean, and the water conditions are perfect.
And best of all, I only have to maintain each filter every other month, when i change the carbon.
(I know people to say to change carbon monthly, but i never have with no ill effects)

I do think the problem seems to lie with your filtration, although without seeing your tank, or knowing your setup, its impossible to say for sure.

I think if you can solve your filter problem, then you should have a happy tank
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It's a HOB three stage filter with activated carbon in the media. I shouldn't have said it smelled bad. I should have said it smelled strong. Like algae in the entire room and the entire thing was greeeen!
 
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